Editors’ Note: This is the second in a series of thank-you features to teachers who make a difference to an NWN staff member.

In 2004, Andrew Jeter decided he was going to do something remarkable: open up the Literacy Center. Along with a couple other teachers, Jeter toured the Naperville North Literacy Center and realized he wanted Niles West to have a similar department to allow students the opportunity of peer tutoring. Needless to say, this decision has yielded magnificent results.

So who was behind all of this? Jeter, who has been the Lit. Center coordinator for the past nine years. You’ve probably seen him in the Lit. Center — his favorite place to be — always making jokes with the students and the teachers, always welcoming, always cheerful. His door is always open (unless he is conducting something top secret,) so you can always just go inside and talk to him, about almost anything.

During my first year as a tutor in the Lit. Center, I remember spending a lot of time in there every day during ninth period, second semester. Since ninth period is usually one of the quieter periods for the Lit. Center, some fellow tutors and I would often find ourselves with nothing to do. So Jeter would sometimes come by and just chat with us for a bit, and we would talk about almost anything, ranging from his crazy funny stories about his college professors, or just anything random. He always knew how to make us laugh and you could tell he didn’t even have to try.

Because of his charismatic and enthusiastic personality, simply being in the Lit. Center is, to put it simply, fun. Of course, he loves being there, so having him there is just pleasant. Without Jeter, I doubt the Lit. Center would be the same. It’s difficult to imagine what it would be like to not have him walking around and chatting with his students, being the friendly person he is. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to get used to that fact. This was his last year as the Lit. Center coordinator.

The reason why this is such a shocking idea is because many of us tutors and tutees have become accustomed to Jeter as a part of the Lit. Center and the Lit. Center being a part of Jeter. While it upsets me to see him go, I still have a lot to thank him for. And there is a list of a countless number of things.

First of all I would like to thank him for being such an amazing coordinator who really taught us a lot about tutoring and how to have fun while doing it. I would also like to thank him for brightening up everyone’s days in the Lit. Center, whether it was through an incredibly funny joke or just his funny comments. Jeter really knows how to pass sarcastic remarks that if you understand, make all the sense in the world and are absolutely hilarious. Jeter has so much knowledge about tutoring, education, and just everything, that he never hesitates to share with us, which I find to be absolutely amazing.

I am definitely going to miss seeing him around in the Lit. Center and being able to just walk into his office and talk to him about anything. He is one of those ‘teachers’ you never really forget simply because of the great personality they have. I thank Jeter for the tremendous amount of work he put into this fabulous institution, making Niles West just a bit better because of it. And I know I am speaking for many others when I say that he will be greatly missed as the coordinator. However, I do wish him the best with his future work.

Thank you, Jeter!